EP 089 | Why Work-Life Balance Matters for Interior Designers with Andrew Mitchell

December 3, 2018

Listen Now

Is work-life balance really possible when you’re running an interior design business?

In this episode, Kimberley Seldon speaks with Andrew Mitchell about the importance of creating balance, protecting creativity, and building support systems that sustain long-term success. While balance may look different for every designer, Andrew explains why regular self-assessment and a willingness to ask for help are essential for maintaining both personal well-being and business performance.

For interior designers juggling competing priorities, this conversation offers practical strategies for creating a more sustainable and rewarding career.

In this episode, we learn:
• Why work-life balance looks different for every business owner
• How regular self-assessment helps identify what’s working and what needs to change
• Why burnout and imbalance can negatively impact creativity and performance
• How creative hobbies outside of design can inspire fresh ideas and reduce stress
• Why a strong support network is essential for personal and professional growth
• How balance helps create a healthier, more sustainable design business

 

Take Aways

Recommended Reading:

Article by Andrew: The 12 Areas of Life Balance

12 areas of balance is taken from The Code of the Extraordinary Mind: 10 Unconventional Laws to Redefine Your Life and Succeed On Your Own Terms by Vishen Lakhiani

Recommended listening:

EP 010 | Hitting the wall with Ellen Walker

 

Design Intervention

Dream big. Even if you fall short of your goals, you’ll be further ahead.

 

Thank you to our Sponsor!

 

Andrew has been working in the design industry for more than 21 years and established his award winning business MR. MITCHELL in November of 2000. With a strong focus on the relationships aspect of the design process, he has established a strong network of industry professionals with whom he collaborates on a regular basis. As Melbourne is the home of some of the world’s most inspirational product designers and manufacturers, his clients are afforded the advantage of personal connections with such talented professionals.

Andrew is a proud and active member of the national industry body, the DIA (Design Institute of Australia). His designs have been awarded on national level and his projects have been featured in multiple Australian and international publications.

Andrew’s designs span a multitude of styles in the residential, hospitality and commercial fields, and are customized to suit the individual clients’ requirements and aspirations. A belief in the use of quality materials that are not only beautiful, but durable and timeless, has the interiors he creates far outlast transient interior trends.

From the early days of his business, Andrew has always strived to contribute to both the design community and the community at large. Over the years he has contributed to mentoring programs for design students and has instigated community events that have creatively inspired participants, also raising money for multiple charitable organizations including the Breast Cancer Australia, The Lighthouse Foundation and the National Trust of Australia.

Andrew has previously taught at Mercer School of Interior Design and was contracted to create training and operational systems for a national design company employing more than 90 interior designers around Australia. As the founder of The Design Coach Australia, Andrew contributes to the ongoing professional development of designers and is creating a platform for connecting and advancing the design community.

Currently Andrew sits on the Advisory Board for Mercer School of Interior Design, is a participant in the mentoring program for RMIT and is a member of the Practice Group for the Design Institute of Australia.

www.mrmitchell.com.au

www.thedesigncoach.com.au

Subscribe to the Podcast

Legal Disclosure | This podcast is for educational purposes only and provides general business advice for interior designers and design professionals. It is not intended as individual legal, accounting, or professional guidance. Kimberley Seldon and Business of Design® make no guarantees regarding accuracy and are not liable for how information is used. Strategies shared may not apply to every situation—listeners should seek qualified legal, financial, or professional advice before making business decisions. References and resources mentioned may change over time.

|